Colombian Caribbean
El Dorado Eco Lodge and Reserve
Located at 1,800 metres (6,000 feet) above sea level with sensational panoramic views, this simple but clean and comfortable lodge is a birder’s paradise. The lodge is located outside the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Park but within the El Dorado Pro Aves Bird Reserve which was set up to protect the habitat of the endangered Santa Marta parakeet.
The lodge was built from locally grown pine and uses sustainable practices where possible. The main building houses the dining room, a living area and small library. The standard ensuite rooms are a short walk away past a variety of feeders.
The Kogihabs have the best views of the Sierra Nevada and are a 10 minute walk along a forest trail close to the main building and restaurant. The Kogihabs are comfortable wooden cabins with electricity, en suite bathrooms with gas heated showers that usually (but not always) have hot water. There are also desks and power outlets in each room for charging camera batteries, etc. It can get quite cold at night, so do bring warm clothes.
Facilities
Restaurant, electricity in the rooms, WiFi (patchy), a dining room/living room area, small library, hummingbird and fruit feeders.
Local Wildlife
At the Cuchillo de San Lorenzo ridge Santa Marta endemics such as the very rare Santa Marta parakeet, skulking Santa Marta antpitta and elusive brown-rumped tapaculo amongst others can be found. A huge number of birds can also be seen in the vicinity of the garden at the lodge such as masked trogon, Santa Marta screech owl (quite difficult), groove-billed toucanet, Sierra Nevada brush finches and white-tailed sabrewing. The Central American agouti is often seen feeding at the compost heap in the garden, and at night crab-eating foxes and a kinkajou sometimes visit the bird feeders. There is a feeder in a cecropia tree viewable from the main building balcony where the locally endemic and as yet undescribed Santa Marta night monkey is sometimes spotted. Walking around at night around the lodge grounds can often reveal the endemic Savage's salamander (Bolitoglossa savage) and many tiny bromeliad frogs.
Optional Activities
A range of activities are available here including wildlife and bird watching on the various trails close to the lodge, and to the Cuchillo de San Lorenzo ridge.
John Melton
Area Specialist
Due to the remote location and weather conditions El Dorado often has electric power cuts, so we would advise to bring a torch with you.
If you have any questions regarding our Colombia tours, please feel free to contact me on +44 (0)1803 866965
Amazing views and food excellent, great for birds!
